​Similar to the English word “Easter,” the word “Lent” was originally a secular word with no particular religious associations.

The word is traced etymologically to an Old English word lencten (related to “lengthen,” referring to the lengthening of days) that simply referred to the season of spring. It is also related to a Teutonic word with the same meaning.

The penitential season in the Church always fell during the springtime in Europe and over the centuries the word “Lent” became synonymous with the liturgical period. Additionally, for the Anglo-Saxon people it was an easier word than the official Latin title. In Latin it is called quadragesima, which means the “40 days” (or more literally the “40th day” before Easter). This term identifies the season with the 40-day period of preparation before the celebration of Jesus’s Passion, death and resurrection.​Read More...

​Here are the basics of what to look forward to during this year’s Lenten journey toward Easter.

Ash Wednesday is on Valentine’s DayOn a day typically reserved for chocolates, candies and delicious meals shared with a loved one, the Church asks you to fast, pray and abstain from meat! Take it as an opportunity to pray with each other and grow deeper in a true and abiding love of God.

Lent lasts 40 days and ends on April 1 (no fools!)In imitation of Jesus fasting in the desert, the Church instituted a special season of fasting that lasts 40 days. However, the six Sundays in Lent are not considered part of the official “Lenten fast” (every Sunday is a special remembrance of the Resurrection of Christ). For this reason, Easter is “technically” 46 days after Ash Wednesday. This year Easter lands on April 1, but is no joke!

The three pillars of Lent are prayer, fasting and almsgivingAccording to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, “The interior penance of the Christian can be expressed in many and various ways. Scripture and the Fathers insist above all on three forms, fasting, prayer, and almsgiving, which express conversion in relation to oneself, to God, and to others. Alongside the radical purification brought about by Baptism or martyrdom they cite as means of obtaining forgiveness of sins: effort at reconciliation with one’s neighbor, tears of repentance, concern for the salvation of one’s neighbor, the intercession of the saints, and the practice of charity ‘which covers a multitude of sins.'”

Lent is a time to practice these essential spiritual practices and clean out our interior house.

Here are the basics of what to look forward to during this year’s Lenten journey toward Easter.

Ash Wednesday is on Valentine’s DayOn a day typically reserved for chocolates, candies and delicious meals shared with a loved one, the Church asks you to fast, pray and abstain from meat! Take it as an opportunity to pray with each other and grow deeper in a true and abiding love of God.​Lent lasts 40 days and ends on April 1 (no fools!)In imitation of Jesus fasting in the desert, the Church instituted a special season of fasting that lasts 40 days. However, the six Sundays in Lent are not considered part of the official “Lenten fast” (every Sunday is a special remembrance of the Resurrection of Christ). For this reason, Easter is “technically” 46 days after Ash Wednesday. This year Easter lands on April 1, but is no joke!

There have been many families throughout history who progressed in sanctity together. Typically the parents led the way in holiness and when raising their children, passed on what they learned. Here are three such families (there are many more that could be listed), who imitated the Holy Family by creating a home where prayer and virtue were practiced on a daily basis.​Sts. Marius, Martha, Audifax, and AbachumA family who lived in the late 3rd century, these Christians were persecuted for their faith during the reign of Emperor Aurelian. According to tradition the family would take care of the bodies of Christian martyrs and bury them. This caught the eye of the local Roman authorities, who made them martyrs as well.

1. She had 24 siblingsCaterina Benincasa grew up in Siena, Italy, the 23rd child of Lapa Piagenti and Giacomo di Benincasa. Unfortunately, about half of their children died at an early age, including Catherine’s twin sister. Suffice to say, it was a busy household.2. Catherine had a vision of Jesus at age 5As a young girl Catherine had a vision of Christ seated in glory with Sts. Peter, Paul and John next to him, and it inspired her to make a private vow, dedicating her life to God. It was only the beginning of the numerous mystical visions she experienced in her lifetime.3. She had a private cell in her parent’s homeWhen she refused to get married, Catherine’s parents recognized the holiness of their daughter and made a private cell — like the room of a nun — that Catherine could live and pray in.

St. Paul writes in his letter to the Philippians, “At the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth” (2:10). Christians have always believed that the name of Jesus is a powerful one, but many are not familiar with the meaning behind it. What does the name mean? Where did it come from?First of all, the name “Jesus” is one that was divinely given through the angelic message of Gabriel to Mary: “Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus” (Luke 1:31). Out of all the names he could have chosen, God chose that name for a reason.The Catholic Encyclopedia states, “The word Jesus is the Latin form of the Greek Iesous, which in turn is the transliteration of the Hebrew Jeshua, or Joshua, or again Jehoshua, meaning ‘[God] is salvation.'”

The Gospels don’t tell us much about the magi who came to visit the baby Jesus. They are simply labeled “wise men” from the East who brought three gifts with them for the newborn king. In fact, the Gospels don’t even state how many wise men approached the manger scene.

However, through various traditions the Church usually highlights three members of the magi group. They are named, Melchior, Caspar and Balthazar.

After visiting the Christ Child St. Matthew tells us that the three wise men, “being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way” (Matthew 2:12).

One tradition dating to the middle ages claims that after leaving Bethlehem, they traveled to India and built a chapel on the Hill of Vaus. Each year they returned to this chapel and prayed to God that they would be baptized before they died.

​Luke sets the stage, “And she gave birth to her first-born son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn” (Luke 2:7).The last word, “inn,” is what usually fosters the narratives as described above. However, the English word is not a full translation of the Greek.

Guest roomThe word used in the original text is kataluma and is best understood as a “guest room,” not a type of commercial inn used for travelers. For that type of lodging Luke uses the word pandokheion. Additionally, Bethlehem was Joseph’s “hometown” and he likely had relatives to stay with.

Even more to the point, very few people would want to give birth in a type of public motel. Inns at that time did not have a good reputation and Mary would have wanted privacy for such an intimate event.

Furthermore, a close reading of the text reveals that Joseph and Mary had been in Bethlehem for a number of days before her birth.

​Poinsettias are one of the most popular plants during the Christmas season and can often be seen filling the sanctuary of churches everywhere. Surprisingly, there is a beautiful story behind this plant that points to a deeper spiritual reality.​Poinsettias are native to Central America and are a plant that flowers in the winter months. There is a legendary Mexican story from the 17th century about this plant that connects it to Christmas.

As Christmas drew near a poor Mexican girl was sad because she didn’t have anything to give to the baby Jesus. Her cousin tried to cheer her up and encouraged her to give even the smallest gift with great love.

Each country adopts a set of patron saints, members of the heavenly court who are special intercessors for all those within a particular country’s borders. It took the bishops of the newly created United States of America 70 years to appoint the Blessed Virgin Mary as patroness of their country. In doing so, they invoked Mary under her title of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception.

It was a choice met with unanimous support, one that was based on many different factors.The decision was reached on May 13, 1846, during the Sixth Provincial Council of Baltimore.

​With enthusiastic acclaim and with unanimous approval and consent, the Fathers [of the Council] have chosen the Blessed Virgin Mary, conceived without sin, as the Patroness of the United States of America.